Tacoma, WA - Willamette Volleyball finished up their Tacoma trip with a 3-0 loss at Pacific Lutheran (25-23, 25-17, 25-12). The loss dropped the Bearcats to 1-2 in the Northwest Conference while PLU improved to 2-0.
The Lutes got off to a hot start and led 5-0 in the first set before the Bearcats battled back to tie the set at eight. The set continued to go back and forth until a kill by Olivia Cadien gave Willamette a 22-20 advantage. PLU would go on to score five of the final six points to take the opening set 25-23.
The second set was much of the same with neither team holding more than a two-point lead until the Lutes pulled away from an 11-11 tie to take a 15-11 lead and eventually go on to a 25-17 win in set two.
The final set was also close at the start until PLU scored 10 straight points to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 19-10 lead. They would go on to win the final set 25-12 to close out the match.
Katey Cramer (8) and Olivia Cadien (6) led the Bearcats in kills for the match. First-years Leina Chu and Dream Takemoto continued to have a positive impact in their initial seasons with Chu leading the way with 14 assists and Takemoto adding 15 digs.
Willamette's next match will be at home on Friday, September 27th, when they take on George Fox University in Cone Fieldhouse at 7:00 pm.